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Visa Bulletin for March 2016

Final action dates and dates for filing for family-sponsored and employment-based green cards, as published by the U.S. Department of State.

36 final action dates advanced and 0 retrogressed compared with February 2016. Biggest moves: EB-3 (China) advanced 8 months to Jun 1, 2013; EB-2 (China) advanced 5 months to Aug 1, 2012; F1 (Philippines) advanced 5 months to Apr 1, 2004.

Final Action Dates — March 2016

An immigrant visa or green card can be approved only if the priority date is earlier than the date shown. Changes compared with February 2016 are shown under each date.

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Aug 8, 2008 +31 d	Aug 8, 2008 +31 d	Aug 8, 2008 +31 d	Jan 8, 1995 +7 d	Apr 1, 2004 +5 mo
F2A	Sep 22, 2014 +21 d	Sep 22, 2014 +21 d	Sep 22, 2014 +21 d	Jun 15, 2014 +7 d	Sep 22, 2014 +21 d
F2B	May 22, 2009 +7 d	May 22, 2009 +7 d	May 22, 2009 +7 d	Sep 8, 1995 no change	Mar 1, 2005 +28 d
F3	Oct 15, 2004 +14 d	Oct 15, 2004 +14 d	Oct 15, 2004 +14 d	Sep 15, 1994 +7 d	Dec 8, 1993 +16 d
F4	Jul 1, 2003 +23 d	Jul 1, 2003 +23 d	Jul 1, 2003 +23 d	Apr 1, 1997 no change	Aug 15, 1992 +7 d

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-2	Current no change	Aug 1, 2012 +5 mo	Oct 15, 2008 +2.5 mo	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Jan 1, 2016 +3 mo	Jun 1, 2013 +8 mo	Jul 15, 2004 +30 d	Jan 1, 2016 +3 mo	Mar 15, 2008 +2.2 mo
EB-3 Other Workers	Jan 1, 2016 +3 mo	Feb 1, 2007 +41 d	Jul 15, 2004 +30 d	Jan 1, 2016 +3 mo	Mar 15, 2008 +2.2 mo
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Jan 22, 2014 +7 d	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — March 2016

Applicants with a priority date earlier than these dates can submit documents to the National Visa Center, and — in months when USCIS says so — file Form I-485. See Final Action Date vs. Date for Filing.

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Oct 1, 2009 no change	Oct 1, 2009 no change	Oct 1, 2009 no change	Apr 1, 1995 no change	Sep 1, 2005 no change
F2A	Jun 15, 2015 no change	Jun 15, 2015 no change	Jun 15, 2015 no change	Jun 15, 2015 no change	Jun 15, 2015 no change
F2B	Dec 15, 2010 no change	Dec 15, 2010 no change	Dec 15, 2010 no change	Apr 1, 1996 no change	May 1, 2005 no change
F3	Aug 1, 2005 no change	Aug 1, 2005 no change	Aug 1, 2005 no change	May 1, 1995 no change	Aug 1, 1995 no change
F4	May 1, 2004 no change	May 1, 2004 no change	May 1, 2004 no change	Jun 1, 1998 no change	Jan 1, 1993 no change

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-2	Current no change	Jun 1, 2013 +5 mo	Jul 1, 2009 no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-3	Current now current	May 1, 2015 +19 mo	Jul 1, 2005 no change	Current now current	Jan 1, 2010 no change
EB-3 Other Workers	Current now current	Aug 1, 2007 +7 mo	Jul 1, 2005 no change	Current now current	Jan 1, 2010 no change
EB-4	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	May 1, 2015 no change	Current no change	Current no change	Current no change

* "All countries" = All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed. "Current" means no backlog: any priority date qualifies. Dates are copied from the official bulletin; always confirm on travel.state.gov before acting.

Summary

What changed in the March 2016 Visa Bulletin?

EB-3 (China) advanced 8 months to Jun 1, 2013; EB-2 (China) advanced 5 months to Aug 1, 2012; F1 (Philippines) advanced 5 months to Apr 1, 2004; EB-3 (all countries and Mexico) advanced 3 months to Jan 1, 2016; EB-3 Other Workers (all countries and Mexico) advanced 3 months to Jan 1, 2016; EB-2 (India) advanced 2.5 months to Oct 15, 2008; EB-3 (Philippines) advanced 2.2 months to Mar 15, 2008; EB-3 Other Workers (Philippines) advanced 2.2 months to Mar 15, 2008.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for March 2016 (travel.state.gov)

Figures are copied from the official files without changes; derived numbers (changes, backlog estimates) are explained on the methodology page. Not legal advice.